Leading edge

Some people gain valuable friendships. Others learn so much about Geauga County, Ohio, they could work for a tourist bureau. Everyone walks away with a few great connections and some quality professional development time.

Leadership Geauga County is a nonprofit organization that serves as a comprehensive education on everything the county has to offer: arts, leisure, history, health and human services, education and more. It’s a class, but it’s also a place where leaders in the area get to know each other as they learn more about the communities in which they work – an essential component to growth businesses should embrace.

Bill Dysert enrolled in the 10-month program, which meets every Friday, and since has become a board member. “It sounds like a huge commitment, and it takes people out of their comfort zones,” says the president of Exscape Designs, a design/build firm in Chardon, Ohio. “But if you are looking to develop internal leaders (in your business), I don’t see a better opportunity now in our county than this.”

Dysert and the maintenance/snow removal manager at his company enrolled in the program at the same time. His office manager completed it before joining Exscape Designs. And last year the production manager participated in the program. Dysert says encouraging leaders at his firm to take the class shows his commitment to their success.

“They come back engaged and willing to take on more responsibility,” he says.

Dysert says the program introduced him to the region’s elected officials, and that has been a help for his business. Getting to know a county commissioner resulted in an invitation to sit on another community board, which parlayed into more local connections.

Dysert values this face time with community members because he knows a service business like his is built on trusted relationships. “Face-to-face interaction with people is priceless, and it has resulted in great work for us,” he says.

This is one of three stories that ran in Lawn & Landscape's Business Builder e-newsletter. To continue reading about Exscape Designs: